Jazz figure hosted NPR show

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Dec 30, 2010 at 12:01 AMDec 30, 2010 at 9:24 AM

NEW YORK (AP) - A jazz pianist and composer who became one of the music form's most ardent promoters through radio, television and the landmark Jazzmobile arts venture has died in Manhattan. Billy Taylor was 89.

NEW YORK (AP) - A jazz pianist and composer who became one of the music form's most ardent promoters through radio, television and the landmark Jazzmobile arts venture has died in Manhattan. Billy Taylor was 89.

His wife, Theodora Taylor, said the cause of death was a heart attack. He died Tuesday night.

Although he had a noteworthy career as a musician, Billy Taylor probably was best known as a jazz advocate.

He was the first black to lead a television studio orchestra in the 1950s. He founded Jazzmobile in the 1960s to bring free music to urban followers. He was host of a popular jazz show on National Public Radio, and he profiled musicians for CBS' Sunday Morning show.

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